Sleep issues

SueBear2

Hey I’m new so I hope this makes since. My client isn’t sleeping well at night but becomes very agitated after lunch because she’s so tired. How long should I let her nap so it doesn’t interfere with her sleep at night.

Shan

We were having trouble greeting our mom to sleep longer than a few hours at night and then she dozed in her chair off and on all day and was agitated because she was so tired. She might need to have her doctor prescribe something before bed to help her sleep better. We put our mom on trazadone and melatonin and she is sleeping much better and is more alert and happy during the day. I’m not sure about naps because my mom refuses to take them even when she was falling asleep in her chair.

towhee

Welcome to the forum SueBear2

Sleep issues can be difficult. If she is waking up on her own from her nap now, and seems to sleep approximately the same amount of time each day, you might try waking her 15 or 20 minutes early, and see if that helps. Then gradually reduce the amount of time she naps. You don't want her to get upset by being woken up though. If that does not work then follow your normal procedures and suggest medication to the appropriate person. Melatonin is often the one that people start with but it must be by a doctor's order.

inertia

Melatonin is often the one that people start with but it must be by a doctor's order?????

Why does a doctor have to approve melatonin?

mommyandme (m&m)

I started melatonin 1mg which helped us. I didn’t consult a dr but when hospice came on board, they paid for it. I also started using lorazepam in the evening as she progressed with the disease. She did nap a lot in the beginning of my caregiving journey but weirdly she quit napping during the day. Naps were a staple in her life for probably 20 years prior to that, well before dementia, that’s why I say “weirdly” .

steelcharm

I live with and take care of a friend of mine. He was having trouble sleeping at night and refuses medication of any kind. I started using an essential oil diffuser in his bedroom at night. The oils I used are lavandin and lavender. He’s sleeping now. Hope this helps someone.

Jo C.

Melatonin can interact with prescription meds affecting how they work as Mayo Clinic points out:

"Possible drug interactions include:

• Anticoagulants and anti-platelet drugs, herbs and supplements. These types of drugs, herbs and supplements reduce blood clotting. Combining use of melatonin with them might increase the risk of bleeding.
• Anticonvulsants. Melatonin might inhibit the effects of anticonvulsants and increase the frequency of seizures particularly in children with neurological disabilities.
• Blood pressure drugs. Melatonin might worsen blood pressure in people taking blood pressure medications.
• Central nervous system (CNS) depressants. Melatonin use with these medications might cause an additive sedative effect.
• Diabetes medications. Melatonin might affect sugar levels. If you take diabetes medications, talk to your doctor before using melatonin.
• Contraceptive drugs. Use of contraceptive drugs with melatonin might cause an additive sedative effect and increase possible side effects of melatonin.
• Cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) and cytochrome P450 2C19 (CPY2C19) substrates. Use melatonin cautiously if you take drugs such as diazepam (Valium, Valtoco, others) and others that are affected by these enzymes.
• Fluvoxamine (Luvox). This medication used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder can increase melatonin levels, causing unwanted excessive drowsiness.
• Immunosuppressants. Melatonin can stimulate immune function and interfere with immunosuppressive therapy.
• Seizure threshold lowering drugs. Taking melatonin with these drugs might increase the risk of seizures."

Some doctors are warning that using too much melatonin to help you sleep could cause other health-related issues; blood pressure issues being one of them and I did not look for the others, one can use Google to search for that. The National Institute of Health states that, "using melatonin occasionally is fine but high levels have been linked to dementia, early mortality and other health issues."

SO . . . always best to check with the LOs physician before starting melatonin or any other OTC med, or herbs or supplements; most substances can interact with prescription medications and with one another. If okay; best to start low and go slow. It was noted that melatonin can also cause headache, dizziness, nausea and other physical symptoms in some people.

J.